If you live in the UK, you will not be able to purchase Prince’s upcoming ten-track album, “Planet Earth.” But if you buy the Mail on Sunday newspaper (in an “imminent” edition) or a ticket to a Prince show, you’ll get the CD for free. Apparently Prince’s representatives made a deal with the national paper directly, doing an end-run around label Sony BMG UK’s objections. As a result, the label has decided not to sell the album in the UK at all. [Listening Post]

Prince’s decision to give away his new album has made music retailers and industry executives very angry.

Music retailer HMV, which previously announced that it would not carry the newspaper containing Prince’s new “free” CD, has since changed its mind.

Prince’s new record drops on July 24th in the US. He has a 21 night residency scheduled for the 02 Arena (capacity 20,000) in London from August 1 to September 21 (15 of those 21 nights are already sold out). He’s also playing a record release party benefit show for the Ross School on July 14th. All Prince tour dates after the jump.

Prince Tour Dates
07/14/07 – Ross School Benefit, East Hampton, NY
08/01/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
08/03/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
08/04/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
08/07/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
08/10/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
08/11/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
08/14/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
08/17/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
08/18/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
08/24/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
08/25/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
08/28/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
08/31/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
09/01/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
09/06/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
09/09/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
09/12/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
09/13/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
09/16/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
09/20/07 – London, UK O2 Arena
09/21/07 – London, UK O2 Arena